30 November 2010

Local Holiday Festivity No. One


216 North Willis Street, Visalia  559.733.3033
It's the most wonderful time of the year....what could be more festive than Afternoon Tea at the Vintage Press?! 

2:00 in the afternoon
Sunday, December 5
Sunday, December 12
Sunday, December 19

*Reservations are encouraged.

This lovely tea is $25 per person...and includes bubbly.


If you know of any local holiday festivities....let me know!  I'd love to spread the good cheer :-)

Very sincerely,
Jillian

Refinancing Now Could Be Better Than Waiting for Mortgage Rates to Drop Further


Mortgage rates on 30-year, fixed rate loans are hovering near the lowest level on record since 1951. While some home buyers are putting their home purchases on hold hoping rates will go even lower, many industry experts are advising homeowners with rates in the upper 4 percent range to refinance.

What this means....

  • Homeowners with rates in the upper four percent range are likely to benefit from refinancing, according to Peter Ogilvie, president of First Residential Mortgage Corp. in Santa Cruz, Calif.  He says refinancing to a lower rate often produces monthly savings, as long as the borrower can qualify under today’s industry credit guidelines and loan-to-value underwriting standards.

  • Borrowers who want to become debt-free faster and can afford it, ought to consider refinancing out of a 30-year term loan into a 15-year term.  Fifteen-year mortgages carry lower rates than 30-year loans, but their faster amortization schedules require higher monthly payments.
  • When considering whether refinancing is the best option, consumers are advised to take into account all of the fees associated with the refinance and decide if the money saved is worth the cost of the refinance.

Read the full story: http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-harney-20101114,0,6276584.story

24 November 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cross your fingers my bird turns out as lovely as this!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'd love to share one of my favorite "After Thanksgiving" recipes with you...this is something my family is very thankful for :-)

"After Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwiches"

Ingredients:
- sliced turkey meat
- ciabatta roll or pretzel bread (our local Savemart has ciabatta, you'll have to trek to Fresno's Whole Foods for pretzel bread...but any good bread roll will do)
- Brie cheese
- cranberry sauce
- arugula (any green will work...)

Assemble sandwich any way you like, with all ingredients.  You can enjoy this sandwich hot, cold, or warm...it's best when brie is warm and slightly oozing out the sides...yum yum!

Until next time, wish me luck as I prepare the Barefoot Contessa's Roast Turkey with Truffle Butter for my entire family.  Let's hope our celebration doesn't turn into a vegetarian option...!


Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving...bon appetit!

Very sincerely,
Jillian

22 November 2010

Three Reasons to Sell a Home Now



The Holiday season is notoriously slow in the for the real estate market...  However, below are three good reasons not to wait, even though the Holidays are (quickly!) approaching:

1. The market is improving. Most markets have either turned or are close to turning.

2. All real estate is local. Homes in great locations are always in demand.

3. Spring is coming soon. Many potential buyers are starting their online searches right after the holidays, making mid- to late February a great time to start marketing.

Source: Bankrate.com, Steve McLinden

02 November 2010

Mortgage Rates Inch Up....Still Remain Near Record Lows

Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages rose slightly this week to an average of 4.23%, just above the lowest level in decades.

The average rate for 30-year fixed loans inched up from 4.21% the previous week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. Earlier in the month, rates fell to 4.19%, the lowest average on records dating back to 1971.

The average rate on 15-year fixed loans rose to 3.66%. That was up from 3.64% a week earlier.

Source: USA Today

Until next time, wishing you all a Happy November...and reminding you all to VOTE :-)



Very sincerely,
Jillian